Crystal Maze

With the year-end twists and turns, The Crystal Ball found its way right smack in the middle of the holidaze. The night  was not only to celebrate Zee Lifestyle Magazine’s fifteen years of publication but an effort, together with the Fashion Council of Cebu (FCC), to help raise awareness and funding for the FCC’s advocacy: educating and training indigent women in the traditional art of dress-making, and updating the technology and instruction of fashion and couturiers in Cebu. Samsung, SM Development Corp., and SM Accessories also made the night possible.

Everyone sees glamor differently but in this case, everyone looked spectacular!  The fashion designers of Cebu did a stellar job of dressing everyone to the nines. Philipp Tampus sent me back in time with a romantic, baroque-inspired gown. Merce Abellana looked exceptionally elegant with her white corseted gown by Arcy Gayatin, Bernie Aboitiz was Audrey Hepburn-esque in Jun Escario. Long trains and tulle  swished down the lobby lounge as the guests arrived for welcome cocktails and music by saxophonist Vince Lahora. The guests were then directed to The Santa Maria Ballroom for the seven-course degustation while being serenaded by Cebuana lounge singer Tria Bascon. The Cebu Provincial Governor Gwen Garcia, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, Cebuano philanthropists Michel and Amparito Lhuillier and Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, to name a few, were all in attendance together with the beautiful people and the most-loved media personalities of  Manila, Cebu and Davao like Tessa Prieto Valdes, Mayenne Carmona and Philip Cu Unjieng.

For the auction to raise funds, big-ticket items including the latest Samsung Galaxy tablets, Breitling and Omega watches, Hermes scarves, a Bergamo made-to-order suit, Crimson GC’s, Metro Ayala diamond jewelry gift certificates, and a Cathay Pacific business-class ticket to the US were all nabbed in no time.

Our own ‘fashion’s night out’ was capped off with “The Black Series” show of SM Accessories, the fashion accessories expert. Zees Style Icon, Loalde’s Lou Aldeguer, was also awarded for her unyielding dedication to the Cebuano RTW industry. Saving the best for last was the  gala fashion show featuring the breathtaking collections of Philip Rodriguez, Cary Santiago, Arcy Gayatin, Jojo Romoff, Oj Hofer, Philipp Tampus, Jun Escario and Yvonne Quisumbing that garnered thunderous applause and standing ovations. A thumping after-party with free-flowing vodka, wine and champagne was powered by Cebu’s clubbing cathedral, The Penthouse.

After fifteen years, the world’s evolved and so have we.

Read more about events in the South on the pages of Zee Lifestyle Magazine, the only glossy magazine in Cebu. Visit www.zeelifestylecebu.com.